The Cuban nail artist and digital content creator MaryArt experienced a nightmarish journey while attempting to fly from Havana to Madrid with a stopover in Panama. The trip coincided with a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that shook the Central American country on October 9 and paralyzed the Tocumen International Airport.
In a video posted on her Instagram account, Mary detailed every unexpected twist of the journey. "Everything started off great, like any trip. We checked in on time, went through security, handed over our luggage, and of course, all of this with zero stress," she recounted.
"Just when we were halfway there, practically grazing Panama: surprise. The pilot took the microphone and announced that we had to change course, making an emergency detour to Jamaica," explained the content creator.
The earthquake forced Tocumen to suspend operations and evacuate its facilities, leaving dozens of flights without a destination. Some were redirected to Colombia, while others, like Mary’s flight, ended up in Jamaica and other countries in the Caribbean region.
"Five hours trapped in Jamaica, waiting for Panama to grant us permission to enter. The uncertainty on the plane was unimaginable," he described. When they finally landed in Tocumen, the relief was short-lived.
"We arrived at the airport and it was another real disaster. It turns out the earth decided to shake. An earthquake just as we were here. Luggage displaced, connections delayed, and absolute chaos," he recounted, referring to one of the more than 100 aftershocks registered after the main tremor, some measuring up to 6.6 in magnitude.
The Tocumen airport implemented the practice of halting flights after each noticeable tremor to inspect its facilities, which multiplied delays and left hundreds of passengers stranded without information.
From the Tocumen airport itself, Mary posted an Instagram story with a direct complaint to the airline: "We've been stranded for 16 hours and Iberia isn't giving us any information."
Mary's journey is set against the backdrop of the air connectivity crisis affecting Cubans traveling to Spain. Iberia suspended its direct route from Madrid to Havana on June 1, 2026, citing fuel shortages at José Martí Airport and low demand, with the suspension extended until June 30, 2027.
As an alternative, the airline offered connections via Panama City through agreements with Copa Airlines, a route that the earthquake of October 9 turned into a labyrinth for those who relied on that transit to reach Europe.
The situation of being stuck at an airport is not new for this traveler. "This is already the second time it's happened to me," she admitted in her video. She announced that she will share another video to confirm if she eventually makes it to Madrid, an outcome that, at the time of this publication, remained unconfirmed.
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